Dec 13th, 2024
In the village of Utuma, where the people held a unique tradition.
I share this story with you so that when you visit with family and friends you
know the difference between
three types of witnessing another. You can witness another with tolerance, care, or love.
I am so grateful to have two incredible people who call me mom!
Usually around their birthday I share this story with
Jasmine and Tyler.
“You are part of a village and in a village not far away called Utuma
a young hunter named Teddy, renowned for his skill and compassion, made a grave mistake. While hunting, he chased a wounded gazelle too far, leaving his family’s food supply perilously low. Emotions filled him as he returned to the Utuma village, his head bowed in guilt.
The villagers assembled in the central clearing, noticed his face and their faces etched with concern, yet their eyes held a deep understanding. The elder, Mama Angel, stepped forward, her voice soft yet powerful. “Teddy” she began, “we see you are troubled. But remember, you are not defined by this one misstep. Tell us, what is it that makes you Teddy, the hunter who always shares his bounty with those in need?”
One by one, villagers shared stories. A young woman recalled how Teddy had once saved her child from a wild dog, a farmer spoke of how Teddy had helped him plant his crops during a drought, and a frail elder recounted how Teddy had always brought her fresh water from the distant river.
With each story, Teddy felt the weight of his guilt lessen. The villagers were not judging him; they were reminding him of the good he had done, the kindness that was woven into the very fabric of his being.
As the night deepened, Teddy rose, his eyes glistening with tears. “I have forgotten who I am,” he confessed, “but you have helped me remember.”
Mama Angel smiled. “Teddy, you are not just a hunter, you are a part of Utuma. And in Utuma, we believe that even when we stumble, our true selves remain. We are here to lift each other up, to remind each other of the light within.”
From that day on, Teddy hunted with renewed purpose, always mindful of the collective memory of his village, a constant reminder that even when he faltered, the love and support of Utuma would always guide him back to the path of goodness.
Every moment is a chance to turn it all around;
your knowing transformed with a wave of love!
You are needed to transform all the fear inside you into love.
Love can be tolerant, caring, or unconditional love.
Tolerant love doesn’t care. Tolerance just looks the other way and goes about its own business. Tolerance is indifferent.
People in the village didn’t look away when Teddy was suffering!
They were not indifferent.
They were more than caring because caring love can be blind to the individual.
The kind of caring that cares for everybody, no matter who they are, but doesn’t allow them to step outside the path your caring believes to be good for them. Caring can suffocate. When we speak of someone caring because a religion requires us to care. If you speak of a law, then that law can become the reason.
Villagers didn’t talk about the way it was done or what he or she believed, They spoke of Teddy and Teddy’s way! They demonstrated deep love!
And then there is deep love. Deep love recognizes another person’s right to grow, their need to travel along a path and get there on their own—and yet has the compassion to be there for them when they are lost.
Deep love has room for a thousand private journeys.
The village of Utuma, where the people held a unique tradition – to cherish the good in each. When someone strayed from the path of right, the village would gather to remind them of their true selves, gently pulling them back from the brink of error through the power of shared memory and collective love.
Forgiveness
“What holds you down will some day hold you up.” Beautiful example of redemption, forgiveness & healing.
“We do not have to be victims of our own stories…but interestingly enough stories are a way out [our suffering]. We hold the power to change our story.” Sammy Rangel ended his ted talk leaving the stage with a standing ovation. He shared some stories of his childhood which was filled with so much abuse and neglect that it’s hard not to empathize with story of what lead him to a 7 year prison sentence in solitary confinement. Sammy is the founder of Formers Anonymous, a self-help group for criminals and addicts who are looking for support on how to change and recover from their addictive behavior. His story is extraordinary – being a victim of childhood physical, mental and sexual abuse, he lived most of his juvenile life as a homeless throwaway child, who very quickly encountered drugs, crime, sex, and violence in the street. He has enhanced his credibility by overcoming addiction and recovering from a life of gangs, violence and maximum-security prison to become a college-graduate, a street-savvy counselor, a mentor and now a father of four. Having graduated with Presidential honours and Summa Cum Laude, Sammy holds a Master of Social Work Degree and has earned several awards. His autobiographical book, FOURBEARS: The Myths of Forgiveness is not simply a graphically illustrated memoir, but also a ‘manual’, as it goes in depth concerning the steps it takes to forgive, change and recover. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
What can you take away from these story:
- Community focus: These stories emphasize the importance of you. You are the village as a whole, where everyone you meet is in need of support and reminds you of your own true nature.
Sammy’s village of origin had challenges for generations.
It wasn’t until Sammy met someone with deep love for him and his journey that Sammy was able to truly have compasion for himself! - Collective memory: Each village and villager shares a story. Those stories can be used to high light the positive qualities, effectively countering any negative actions.
Sammy uses his positive qualities to transform tolerance and caring into deep love! - Forgiveness and redemption: Though Teddy and Sammy made mistakes, the ‘healing’ village does not punish them; instead, they offer them a chance to reflect and reconnect with their true self.
Your true nature gets nurtured with every story you tell!
Are you ready to remember who you truly are?
When you see someone’s faults and you truly want to help.
You don’t mention it. Not even to a friend, a spouse, your child or even the
sweet person that asks you to “pray” for everyone in the neighborhood while
spreading gossip & hearsay!
You only speak to therapist, coaches, or a wise mentors that never diminish another.
Practice makes perfect and do not say a word about what you have found wrong.
Yes, please actively seek instead, to find something wondrous about that person,
perhaps something that nobody ever mentions.
Yes you can begin to talk all about it—find your magnificent self, and to those who
will listen and sympathize.
In very little time, you will see such a new person, you will believe you are a maker of wonders.
Consider how magnificent you are!
“When two or more are gathered!”
“Miracle making” happens because something greater than us, “The Universe” or a “Higher Power” created the same power in every atom or every star. It feels your energy and frequency available for the next best experience for you to realize
Your outer world is a reflection of the inner world, and what is happening inside
can be told by looking at what is happening around. Remembering what it
means to be existing on the third rock from the sun.
